Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Quick and the Read: 3 New Image Comics

The Quick and The Read: A Trio of First Issues From Image

Taking a look at three recent first issues from Image Comics. Let's get to the quick reviewing!


Point of Impact #1

Story by Jay Faerber
Art & Cover by Koray Kuranel

Preview


What I Liked
The art. I liked the black and white throughout the whole comic and thought it was done very nicely. Apparently this is the debut issue for this artist, and I must say that I am a fan. The fight scene felt very fluid and the use of space was nicely done.

What I Didn't Like
The story just felt very generic. Where as Happy! had the moment of revealing the blue imaginary horse, this story felt like it was missing that twist that would make this story seem to stand out from others like it. This very much felt like a television show or a tryout for a new procedural show.


Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: It is a four issue series, but I'm just not down with it after the first issue. I'll pass.


Great Pacific #1

Written by Joe Jarris
Art and colors by Matin Morazzo

Preview


What I Liked
I think I liked the idea of this comic more so than the actual execution. The art was OK. It reminded me a bit of a Quietly kind of look mixed with the Luna brothers. The writing itself seemed to be a little all over. It surprised me that this issue was more of a focus of the main character through the set up of him going to the island and what his life was like before jumping on the pile of junk. I think I may have liked the execution better if it had followed something similar to just putting the character in the middle of island and letting the character develop there. Seeing how he was beforehand gives me the same kind of feeling as if we learned about any characters from The Walking Dead before the apocalypse - the characters are such a vast difference from what they were before the event that they don't even seem like those characters any more.

So thus far, we've been introduced to a main character who won't resemble himself in an issue or two, probably.

What I Didn't Like
While the groundwork for the first issue and concept was laid out in the first issue, this felt like a very skippable first issue. The concept and premise sounds good to me, and I think I may pick up the second issue. But unless some stronger legs help stand this story up next issue, I think I may just check out.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: I think I may have to check out some preview pages before making a commitment one way or another.


Storm Dogs #1

Script: David Hine
Art: Doug Braithwaite


Preview

What I Liked
This is a story that definitely needed more pages for the first issue. I like the concept and the story approach, but it just felt very cramped and not developed considering the amount of pages that were involved.

The art work was beautiful.

What I Didn't Like
The story and art both needed to pan back. Together, they both focused on close up shots of the characters and character moments that, while good for individual development, didn't allow for the bigger picture to show. You can tell this when, at the end of the story, new characters appear out of nowhere and you are not quite sure what is going on with them. Should we be scared of them? Will they be there for hope? Who knows.

One sign of a great first issue is being able to lay down what the book will be about and to provide enough to make you care about the characters. While we do get some good info about the characters, there is a lot of the overall story that seems to be missing that was either left on the cutting room floor or will be told in the next issue. Which, again, only makes me think that we need to have some extra pages for this book that could travel into that territory a little more.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: Ultimately, no. There really isn't anything here that has my interest beyond this issue. Looks nice, but not for me.






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